Cat survives arrow through its skull

'Moo Moo' lucky to be alive after being shot with a crossbow

A cat in New Zealand is lucky to be alive after being shot through the head with a crossbow.

"Moo Moo" was injured a week ago when an 18-year-old man practicing with his crossbow told police he accidentally shot the feline after it darted into his path, Stuff.co.nz reported.

The cat apparently tried to go back home after the impaling, but couldn't get through the cat door because the foot-long crossbow arrow was too big.

Moo Moo's owner eventually found him hiding in the bushes and rushed him to the vet.

Luckily, the arrow went in above Moo Moo's eye and mainly hit the cranium, so there was little impact on brain tissue.

"There was a little bit of injury to his nose and eye socket, but he’s an extraordinarily lucky cat," Dr. Jonathan Bray told 3News.co.nz. "The velocity of the bolt hitting him would have been quite frightening, so he’s very brave. He’s very well this morning -- bright and happy.

"The wound is doing fine and he’s got nothing that is going to cause him any long-term harm."

Police were weighing charges against the 18-year-old man, who didn't go to police until several days after the shooting.

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.